Method and apparatus for making branch-fitting blanks



y 5, 1942- w. .J. GAZ EY 2,281,573

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRANCH-FITTING BLANKS Filed Sept. 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 5,1942 w. J. GAZEY 2,281,573

METHOD AND AFPARATUS- FOR MAKING BRANCH-FITTING BLANKS Filed Sept. 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Shea-zr 2 .lu lining; i

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M y 1942 w. J. GAZEY 2,281,573

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRANCH'-FITTING BLANKS Filed Sept. 26, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 5, 1942. W.. I.GAZEY 2,281,573

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRANCH-FITTING BLANKS Filed Sept. 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented ay 5, 1942 v PATENT OFFIQ' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRAN CH-FITTIN G BLANKS William J. Gazey, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Chase Brass & Copper 00.,

Incorporated,

Waterbury, Conm, acorporation' Application September 26, 1938, Serial No. 231,658

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for making branch-fitting blanks by die-forging.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved and more economical method of dieforging branch-fitting blanks.

Another object of this invention is to provide] improved and more economical apparatus for die-forging branch-fitting blanks.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which. certain ways of carrying out the invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a pair of die-members made-in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lower diemember shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper diemcmber shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the 'pair of die-members on line 4 of Figs. 2

and 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the lower insert-blocks shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a double branch- 30 fitting blank after completion of the die-forging operation;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the consisting of a lower die-member 25 and an .upper die-member 26 may be mounted in any suitable press or forging machine so as to have movement relatively oppositely toward one another, usually by the upper die-member having branch-fitting blanks after the fiash has been trimmed away from the blank of Fig. 6 to clean 5 and separate the two branch-fitting blanks;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a branch-fitting which has been made by drilling or boring the blank shown in Fig. '7;

Fig, 9 is a top plan .view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of die-member for making a single branch-fitting blank; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the insert-blocks shown in Fig. 9.

In the description and claims, the various steps and parts are identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the prior art will permit.

In the manufacture of branch-fittings such,

for example, as the T-fitting 20 shown in Fig. 8 from the forged T-blank 2! shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it will be understood that the lineor run-terminals 22 and 2 3 of the T-fitting 2@ may be either the same or of different sizes and all the movement, against a billet or slug of metal such, for example, as copper-or high-copper alloy, heated to forging temperature, to form or die-forge the branch-fitting blank. It'wilL be appreciated that if each different branchfltting blank were made by a separate pair of die-members, there would be a very large cost or expense for the die-members. But, by constructing the die-members in. accordance with the present invention, the cost of producing forged branch-fitting blanks can be greatly reduced. Thus, instead of making a new complete pair of die-members for each separate branch-fitting blank to be forged, the die-men..-

bers can be formed so as to receive any of several pairs of die-inserts, which are relatively small and inexpensive, to thus permit of the economical and ready substitution of one pair of die-inserts for another to accomplish the manufacture of branch-fitting .blanks having any desired one of a number of different size-combinations of terminals. 7

Thus, the lower die-member 25 is provided with forming-cavity portions, generally designated respectively by the numerals 21 and 28, each form-- ing-cavity portion including a terminal-forming cavity-portion 29 and a body-forming cavity-portion 30. The lower die-member 25 also has two insert-block cavities 3i and 32 adapted to respectively receive insert-blocks 33 and 36. Each insert-block has two terminal-forming cavityportions '35 and 36. Two knockout-holes 31 are adapted to have pins or rods forced through them against the base of the insert-blocks to force them out of their places in the die-member 25,

for the purpose of substituting other insert blocks.

The upper die-member 26 is similarly provided with forming-cavity portions, generally designated respectively by the numerals 38 and 39 and with insert-blocks so and M. Knockoutholes 42 are also provided for ready removal of the insert-blocks. Spring-retracted knockoutpins 48 are also provided for the knocking out of the forged blank by the action of the upstroke o! the press-ram carrying the upper die-member.

By having the dies or die-members constructed to manufacture a double branch-fitting blank such as the blank 44 shown in Fig. 6, a higher speed of production and consequent greater degree of economy is accomplished, than where a single branch-fitting blank is made at one stroke of the press. satisfactory results are obtained by using a single cylindrical billet 45 laid horizontally across the body-forming cavities 30 of the lower die-membar 25. Upon the two die-members being forced together, this single billet of metal is spread out and fills the two branch-fitting cavities to form the blank 44 together with the flash 48 shown thereon.

After trimming oil. the flash 46 and separating theitwo T- or branch-blanks 2|, the latter are ready for drilling or boring to produce T's or branch-fittings such as illustrated in Fig. 8.

Where the quantity of branch-fittings to be manufactured is comparatively small, part of the. benefits oi the present invention can be obtained without the employment of double-cavity dies. Thus, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, each of the lower and upper die-members 41 (only one being shown) may be provided with a formingcavity portion, generally designated by the numeral 4B and including a body-forming cavityportion 49 and a terminal-forming cavity-portion 50. provided, each having a terminal-forming cavityportion 53. The usual knockout-holes 54 provide for removal and substitution of other insert- 'blocks having other sizes of terminal iorming cavity-portions. In the case of this form 01 the Under this circumstance, I find- Insert-blocks such as iii and 52 are invention, I find it satisfactory to use a cylindrical slug or billet stood on end, as indicated at 55 in Fig. 9.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. Apparatus iormaking a plurality of branchfitting blanks each having a total of at least three lineand branch-terminals. of any desired one of a number of different size-combinations of said terminals, comprising: a pair .of die-members each oi which has a plurality of bodyand terminal-forming cavity-portions and one or more insert-block cavities each designed and adapted to receive any desired one of a number of different insert-blocks, each insert-block havinga plurality of terminal-forming cavity-portions complemental to the other insert-block of a pair, and different pairs having different sizes of terminal-forming cavity-portions.

2. Apparatus for making a branch-fitting blank having a total of at least three lineand branchterminals, of any desired one of a number of dif- J. GAZEY. 

